SUNBURY — Just one week after Miranda Barbour repeated her claims to have killed at least 22 people, she pleaded guilty in Northumberland County Court to one of those murders.

Barbour, 19, and her husband, Elytte, 22, unexpectedly entered guilty pleas Tuesday during a status conference for what would have been their death-penalty trials in the November slaying of Troy LaFerrara.

Police say she stabbed LaFerrara 20 times while her husband used a cord to strangle the 42-year-old victim in the Barbours' car in Sunbury.

Had their cases gone to trial, Elytte Barbour would have testified against his wife of less than one year, according to Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski.

"I knew exactly what he would do," Miranda Barbour said of her husband, who previously had told police the newlyweds wanted to kill someone for the thrill of it. "He knew exactly what he did as well."

Miranda Barbour's revelations in a February interview with The Daily Item that she stopped counting after committing 22 murders were widely questioned.

"I stand by what I said," Miranda Barbour said last week during an interview with The Daily Item from Muncy State Prison.

"I wanted to get it off my chest and I did," she said. "I never said I did all of this myself, but I have been around it and saw these things. If people choose to not believe me, then that's up to them. I said what I said and I wanted to get the truth out. This is the first time I am telling the truth in my life. ...

"This is where I belong," she said. "I wanted to put this behind me and move on."

She said she wants to begin to try to help others.

"I know what I have done in the past is wrong," she said. "I want to start to do good things and help other people who may be in the position I was in."

Miranda Barbour told Judge Charles Saylor she wanted to plead guilty.

She made no other statements.

Barbour was arrested Dec. 3. Sunbury police said she stabbed LaFerrara after an arranged meeting between the two had been set up Nov. 11.

The meeting was supposed to be for companionship.

Barbour last week said she had planned to go to jail and even had her paperwork in order before she was arrested.

"Two murderers," she said, "could not raise children."

Miranda Barbour and Elytte Barbour each have a child from previous relationships.